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(IodeL) W. P. OOSTON.

Pyrotechnic Signal.

No. 237,092. Patented Feb. I, 1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()EFICE.

WILLIAM oosron, on NEW YORK, n. Y., AssIenoR'To MARTHA J.

- OOSTON, OFYWASHINGTON,DISTRIOT OF COLUMBIA.

-PYROTECHNIQ SlGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,092, dated February 1, 1881.

' Application filed November 4,1880. noaeu' To all whom it may concern:

New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Pyrotechnic Signals and Hold-- ers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pyrotechnic signals; and the invention consists in the combination of one or more colored-lights arranged to be exhibited or burned on the vessels deck or from the ground with one or more colored, stars to be shot up into the air and burned while aloft.

It further consists in a novel construction of base-block for the signal, and in a new style of holder and striker for holding and igniting the same, and in a novel arrangement for the fuse, all as hereinafter more fully described.

Figure l is a longitudinal section of the holder and striker with a section of a signal attached. Fig.2 is a longitudinal central section of a signal made on my plan; and Figs. 3 and a are similar views, showing the colored lights difi'erently arranged. Fig. 5 is a front end view of the holder. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the base-block on the line a; .zof Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a bottom-plan view of the base-block; and Fig. 8 is a top-plan view of the signal, showing the grooves for reception of the end of the fuse.

The object of this invention is to produce signals adapted to distinguish any particular vessel or line of steamers, and which, while exhibiting the special arrangement of colored lights which may be adopted by any line of steamers from the deck of the vessel, shall also exhibit an aerial signal peculiar to that particular vessel or line of steamers, so that it may be seen on the opposite of a high headland or other intervening object.

Fig. 2 represents a signal made on this plan, a, I), and 0 indicating material for producing in succession lights of difierent colors, and next below them is a nondmninous fuse, 0, which produces an interval of time without any signal, then another colored light, d, then another interval-fuse o, anothercolored light, 0, then another interva-lfuse 0, which extends at the center down to a layer of powder, 12, above which latter is placed the aerial signal or colored stars, which latter is surrounded by a case, G, attached to the base-block A, and is of sufiicient length to confine the gases produced by the burning of the powder, so as to throw the star 8 up into the air.

In Fig. 3 there is shown the same arrangement of the successive colored lights a, b, and c, with two of the aerial signals or stars 8 8, each having a charge of powdeiyp, arranged below it for throwing them up into the air, as before described, there being an intervabfuse, 0, located between the first three lights and the first star 8, and another below the first charge of powder, so as to cause anjnterval or brief space of time to elapse after the first three lightslrave been displayed'befcre the-first star or aerial signal is shot up, and then another interval before the second star or aerial signal is sent up.

In Fig. 4 there are represented three colored lights, a, b, and c, with two non-luminous fuses o 0 located between the lights, so that there shall be a brief interval of time after one light has been displayed before the sncceedin g one is shown, the object of these intervals being to enable the different lights of which the signal may be composed to be more distinctly seen and distinguished each from the other. The

non-luminous fuse o is made of a composition which burns slowly and with little or no light, its object being not,only to conduct the fire from one colored composition or light to another, but more especially to produce by its slow combustion a decided interval of time between the colored lights, aud to do this without producing any light that would be likely to obscure or in any manner interfere with the exhibition or recognition of the different colored lights used in the signal. Such compo sitions, being well known to those skilled in the art, need notbe specifically described, es-

pecially as different materials may be used to form them. The layers of these interval-fuses will be made of the thickness required in order to burn a given number of seconds, and thus the intervals may be varied at will, they being, for instance, five, ten, or fifteen seconds in duration. By thus separating the colored lights from each other by the intervention of the nonluminons interval-fuse or composition, the colv of the aefial signals or stars. I 5

ored lights are rendered much more clear and distinct, as the lapse of time between the colors permits the impression made by one color up on the eye to pass away before the next color is presented to the eye, thereby greatly assisting in the correct reading of the signals and the prevention of mistakes. I

In making the signals the colored lights may be arranged in any desired order, and there may be any desired number of them and so, too, they maybe arranged to operatein immediatesuccession, or at intervals, or partly in succession and partlyat intervals,as maybedesired,andso, too,

By this plan signals may be made to designate any particular line of steamers or vessels, and also any particular vessel of the line, if desired. For in- .stance: Suppose the line to use as their dis- .tiuctive mark atlag composed of the colors red, white, and'blue, with a red star. The signal for such line would be made so as to show either successively or at intervals the colored lights red, white, and blue, and thena red star to be shot up into the air. Itis not necessary to use the identical colors used in'the flag, as 'other colors may he agreed upon but it is very desirable to do so, because those colors will be more readily recognized as the distinguishing mark of that particular line of vessels. If,'now, it be desired to go further and designate each separate vessel of the line, it may readily be done by agreeing beforehand upon some special mark for each vesselsuch, for instance, as particular color to be burned at an interva, after the completion of the regular signal desig hating the .line ;--or, by numbering the vessels one, two, three, &c.,- the signals may l5e prepared for each vessel with a corresponding number to be exhibited after the signal designating he line. This designation of the separate vessels of the same line is not, however, often required.

Heretoibre it has been customary, in cases where a highland intervenes between the vessel and the port, to have a lookout stationed on the highland, to whom signals were displayed from the deckof the vessel, and who, in turn, repeatedthe signal for the port, thus requiring two sets of signals and double time. By the use of my improved signal I obviate this difiiculty, as in such case the signal may be made with the distinguishing colors of the particular line entirely aerial; or they may be made double, the first to show from the deck, and then the second set, being a duplicate of the first, being aerial, the aerial signals in either case showing above the highland, and

at once announcing at the port what line the vessel belongs to.

in constructing these signals I make a baseblock, A, of wood or similar cheap material, as shown in Fig. 2, to which the case L, of paper or similar material, is secured after it has been filled with the various compositions, the aerial signal being inclosed in a separate case, G, which is inserted into the case L before the latter is secured to the base-block. In the cen ter of the base-block a longitudinal hole, 7:, is bored to receive a percussion-cap, m, which is placed therein with its mouth outward, as represented in Fig. 2. Another hole, i, is bored from one side of the block inward until it intersects the hole It just below the point where the cap on rests, as represented in Fig. 2. A piece of fuse or quick-match, k, has one end inserted into the hole i, and is secured in close proximity .to the cap m, so as to be ignited thereby, from whence it extends upward alon gside of the signal, and has its upper end secured in a transverse groove, 1), made for that purpose across the top of the signal, as shown in Fig. 2.

In pressing the composition to form the signal I use a die having projections on its face so arranged as to form a series of these grooves, 12, two or more in number, and crossing each other on the end of the signal, as shown in Fig. 8, so that when the composition is secured to the base-block A some one of these grooves will be in the proper position to receive the end of the quick-match k. By thismeans much time and trouble is saved.

In order to secure the signal to its holder, I make acircumferential groove, 7, near the lower end of the block A, as shown in Fig. 2,0r, what is the same in effect, make the block with a projecting radial flange at its lower end. In either case there are three vertical grooves, l, which extend from the bottom of the block up to the groove r, or through the radial flange, aslrshowmin Figs. 7 and 8.

he holder and striker consists of a handle, B, which may be of wood, with a short metal tube secured to and projecting a short distaiice from one end, as shown in Fig. 1. Three studs, n, project inward a short distance from the sides of this tube D', as shown more clearly in Fig. 5, and below them, within the tube, is located a plate, I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, which rests upon the end of a spiral spring, P, as shown in Fig.1. The striker 0 consists of a metallic rod inserted in a hole extending longitudinally through the handle 13, its front,

end being pointed or made small enough to enter the cap on, while its rear end is provided with a button or knob for striking it with the hand. It is held in place by a pin, J, which passes transversely through the handle and through a. slotin the striker), this lot. being of the proper length to permit the striker to move far enough to hit the cap m in the baseblock A. The spiral spring P at its rear end bears against a shoulder on the striker 0, thus keeping the striker pressed back when at rest. In this case I have shown the spring P as op- .erating both on the striker G and on the plate I, the last coil of the spring, where it bears against the plate I, being made much larger in diameter, to prevent the plate from tipping sidewise. If preferred, separate springs may be used; but it is simpler and cheaper to make the one spring answer both purposes. This colored lights arrange holder and striker is simple, cheap, and very efficient.

It will be understood that by the term colcred light is meant a light which presents a positive color other than and different from the light which is produced by the burning of the mealed powder, niter, &c., ordinarily used in Roman candles and similar pyrotechnics.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A pyrotechnic signal having one or more d to burn and be exhib- "ited from the hand or at the surface, with one or more aerial signal-lights arranged to be thrown into the air and exhibited while aloft.

2. A pyrotechnic signal containing two or more signal-lights, with one or more intervening composition non-luminous fuses, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A pyrotechnic signal having its baseblock A provided with a radially-projecting flange with longitudinal grooves l, or equivalent means for securin git to the spring holder and striker, substantially as shown and described.

4. As an improvement in pyrotechnic signals, the base-block A, provided with the transverse hole 2', with the central longitudinal hole, h, extending beyond the transverse hole far enough to form a recess the cap m, said cap being inserted therein with its mouth outward, with the quick-match 70,

having one end located below the mouth of the cap, and extending from thence out through thetransverse hole and up alongside of the case to the outer end of the signal, as shown and described.

5. A pyrotechnic signal provided with a series of radial grooves, 10, formed in the outer end of the composition for the reception of the quick-match, substantially as shown and described.

for the reception of a 6. The combined holder and striker, consisting of the handle B, having the projecting tube or socket D, provided with the lugs n and plate I, and the striker C, with the spring P, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

. WM. F. OOSTON.

Witnesses J OHN B. PANNES, F. G. ANDERSON. 

